LOCAL RUGBY ROUNDUP
A LAST-GASP drop goal from full-back Steffan Castle secured last season’s WRU National Plate runners-up Ystalyfera a dramatic 8-5 home victory over Bonymaen and a place in the last 16.
They had to come from behind in what was a low-scoring third round encounter with Connor Salter putting Bonymaen ahead after three minutes.
Jonathan Williams’ try right on half time levelled matters for the Fera with Castle’s kick five minutes into added time keeping their hopes of an immediate return to the Principality Stadium on track.
Holders Penallta will have to wait, though, after their scheduled tie at Cwmgors was postponed – one of four matches that failed to beat the weather.
Crymych are also into round four after their narrow 27-25 home win over Tondu.
Ifan Phillips, Luke Rogers and Osian Davies got the Crymych tries with Phillips also booting three conversions and two penalties.
Ynysybwl won 16-14 at Llantrisant while a brace from David Richards helped send Mountain Ash through 14-6 against St Josephs.
Will Holley converted both tries while Jake Chilcott booted two penalties for Joes.
Meanwhile the boot of Luke Fish proved to be the difference for Glamorgan Wanderers as they won 28-25 at Aberystwyth.
Cameron Gibbon, Aaron Fowler and Phillip Pariyo got the Wanderers’ tries with Fish booting two conversions and three penalties to seal a narrow win.
Ruthin and Nant Conwy are also through after winning at Croesyceiliog and Whitland respectively.
In the National Bowl fourth round, Pembroke are into the last 16 after they battled back from 17-5 down at half time to earn a 32-22 victory at Laugharne.
John Pullmen, Tom Lewis, Luke Hartland, Tom Smith and Dan Golley were the Pembroke try scorers with Sean Darling adding two conversions and a penalty.
Aled Rees, Tom Waters, Carwyn Lewis and Steve Bevan got the Laugharne tries with Tom Jameson adding a conversion.
Elsewhere Cardiff University made it through to round five with a 38-13 home victory over Shotton Steel but there was frustration elsewhere with the weather claiming 2016 beaten finalists Taffs Well’s game at Treharris, as well as Monmouth against Newtown and Oakdale verses Penallta seconds. Porthcawl hammered Trimsaran 52-9. Clayton Gullis was at the double as National Championship leaders Pontypool beat Trebanos 24-7 to make it 11 wins out of 11.
A penalty try and Roy Nash were also on the scoresheet for Pooler with Matthew Jones adding a conversion.
Sam Davies got the Trebanos try, which was converted by Matthew Edwards.
Pontypool boast a 14-point advantage with a game in hand over nearest challengers Narberth at the top of the table while Narberth themselves also bagged a bonus-point in a 34-19 home victory over Cardiff Metropolitan University students.
The students looked to be on their way to a fifth victory of the season as they led 19-10 at the break.
Corey Whane, Chris Lewis and Alex Fenton got their tries with George Simpson converting two of them. However they were unable to register in the second half as the home side rallied to earn their eighth win from 12 matches.
Liam Hutchings, Jack Price, Keiron Jones and Rhodri Owens all crossed the whitewash for Narberth with all four tries converted by Ianto Griffiths who also booted two penalties.